In an effort to slow the spread of the Chinese coronavirus, the nation of Greece has officially banned unvaccinated persons from entering many public indoor spaces. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the draconian measure last Thursday in an address on national television. The new measures went into effect on Monday.
Previously, the approximately one-third of Greece’s population that remains unvaccinated was able to enter public places such as gyms, bars, theaters, and museums if they were able to show a negative COVID-19 test.
Under the new measures, unvaccinated Greeks may still enter churches, supermarkets, pharmacies, hair salons, shops, and hairdressers. These newest restrictions are expected to last until December 6.
The new measures are in line with other European nations, such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic, that claim they are now facing a “fourth wave” of coronavirus.
Austria, in fact, has imposed full lockdowns on all unvaccinated citizens.
“This is indeed a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Mitsotakis said in his address. “Greece is mourning unnecessary losses because it simply does not have the vaccination rates of other European countries.”
Greek health officials claim that the country’s ICUs are currently at over 90-percent capacity due to a sudden increase in COVID-19 cases. PM Mitsotakis again blamed the so-called fourth wave on unvaccinated persons.
“We are up against a pandemic of the unvaccinated, since those vaccinated even if they get sick have mild consequences,” Mitsotakis said.
To compound those issues, Greece is currently facing a severe healthcare worker shortage as, in September, the government suspended over 5,500 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and technicians, who refused to receive the experimental vaccines.
Mitsotakis hopes that the new measures will encourage unvaccinated persons to knuckle under and receive one of the experimental vaccines — all of which have been linked to either blood-clotting issues or inflammation of the heart or the muscles surrounding the heart.
“I am optimistic that they will weigh the situation more calmly and realize that if they are vaccinated, their life will finally become much easier. Without additional restrictions and financial burdens, they will be next to their loved ones and feel more comfortable in society. This is exactly the aim of the additional measures that I am announcing today,” the prime minister said.
In other words, if you are a Greek who wishes to “feel more comfortable in society,” you better get the shot.
Greek Travel Pages reported on the new restrictions: “All unvaccinated adults, who until now were banned from entering restaurants, cafes and bars, will not be allowed to enter other public venues, including cinemas, theaters, museums or gyms, not even with a negative Covid-19 test.”
“Verification checks to certificates will be conducted at entrances. All certificates (printed or on cell phones) will be scanned by the Covid Free app. With regard to entering churches, those unvaccinated must present a negative Covid-19 test (rapid or PCR) result from a private health center, or a recovery certificate,” Greek Travel Pages reported.
And, of course, masks are required in all workplaces and public- and private-sector businesses.
Vaccination certificates for Greeks over 60 years of age will expire seven months after the vaccination process — be it one or two shots — has been completed. This means that Greek citizens over 60 years of age will need to receive a booster shot before they can again enter public spaces.
The Greek government also announced that “staggered workdays” will be introduced into both the public and private sectors, which means that employees will start their workdays at different times to avoid overcrowding during arrival and departure times and minimize exposure on public-transit systems.
The prime minister also announced that checks for vaccination certificates will be intensified. Recently, Greek prosecutors have begun investigating the proliferation of fake vaccine certificates from shady healthcare providers as well as from Bulgaria, which borders Greece to the north.
Most of those false certificates claim the recipient received the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, which apparently is not traceable in laboratory tests.
The prime minister believes that the draconian new measure will lead to a happier Christmas season than Greece experienced in 2020.
“We will move forward with this plan for the next two months to have a better Christmas than we did last year,” Mitsotakis said.
